Halloween Happenings #1

by Adele Woodyard

Even though it comes at the end of October, Halloween  begins three holiday months in a row. So blog #1 will feature the fun and frights, haunts and horrors presently being offered in and around Sarasota. For more information: http://www.visitsarasota.org

Fri. 10/19: Kids wear your costume to the Fish, Fun, and Fright Night at the Mote Marine Aquarium, 6:30-9:00 p.m. There’s Dr. Franklin Fish’s Lab of Horrors to visit (best for kids 8 and over), dig for sharks teeth on Coffin’s Creek, and more. Online $6 person until 10/17, $10 non-members at door; Free kids under 4.  941-388-4441 http://www.mote.org/halloween .

Sat. 10/20: It’s an adults only at the 4^th annual Zombie Pub Crawl in Gulf Gate area bars block party, 5 p.m.-midnight?. Look and dress like a zombie to enjoy special drinks, games and raffle. Pre-buy  available 10/1; $20 at door. http://www.srqzombies.com

Fri. 10/26: Family Boo-fest at Lakewood Ranch with trick or treat from 6:00-9:00 p.m., costume parade 6:30, ghost stories 7:30 and 8:30. A scarecrow costume contest, haunted house and more add to the fun.
Sat. 10/27: Same place, next night it’s adults only for the 2^nd annual Lakewood Ranch International Beer Festival along Main Street. 800-954-9578, http://www.lakewoodranch.com

Fri-Sun; 10/26-28: 4^th Annual Sarasota Pumpkin Festival, Sarasota Fairgrounds,  noon-10 p.m. offers pie eating and costume contests, a “not-so-scary Haunted House”, pumpkin carving, trick or treating, and more for $5 admission, advance; $7 at gate. Kids 12 and under FREE. . Carnival rides (tickets extra at Festival) Benefit: All Children’s Hospital. 941-706-3102. http://www.sarasotapumpkinfestival.com

Sun-Tues, 10/28-10/30: Ghost Tours with Kim Cool 7:00-8:00 p.m. See and hear about the scary ghouls and events in a walk through downtown Venice. $15 in advance; reservation required. 941-486-2626.

Wed. 10/31: St. Armand’s Circle celebrates Halloween with their 3^rd Fright Night, 6:00-10:00 p.m. Trick or treat in scary shops on spooky streets where even the statues wear costumes. 8 p.m. the Sarasota High School Drama Dept. presents a street performance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. FREE
Go for one of the  $500 prizes in a costume contest at Sarasota’s Ramada Waterfront Hotel’s Sinful Halloween Party. General admission $10, $5 for hospitality industry. Want to spend the night? Ask for the Neighborhood Rates Package that starts at $59/night. 941-358-1000

Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott, Venice offers a 25% discount, standard room on Halloween night.  Ask for the Zombie Rate;  941-488-4343.

Ghosts and Goblins

by Adele Woodyard

According to Florida theme parks, Halloween is a month long affair. In fact Disney, Universal and Busch Gardens began their fright fests in September. This week’s blog will start October with statewide events where you can be spooked until you’re panic stricken.

For 20 years Universal Studios “scream team” has been scaring the be-jeezus out of the visitors. This anniversary celebration Horror Nights promises to turn your blood into water. As a result, it is NOT recommended for kids under the age of 13. It’ll cost you $74.99 to face your deepest fear on the following dates: Oct. 1-3, 7-10, 14-17, 20-24, 27-31. Hours start at 6:30 p.m., whether ending at midnight, 1 or 2 a.m depends on date. No costumes or masks allowed. 407-363-8000 http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com

Kids too young for Universal will be able to shiver a little at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This is a trick-or-treat in costume throughout the Magic Kingdom affair complete with a parade and fireworks. Admission depends on date, starts at $59.95 for adults, $53.95 for ages 3-9. Call 407-824-4321 for the after park hours and prices on select dates now through Nov.1. http://www.disneyworld.com

It’s Howl-O-Scream on select nights at Busch Gardens. Hobgoblins in haunted houses, scare zones and shows with psychotic people-monsters, have you running in terror toward even scarier rides. Florida residents get a break with admission starting at $29.95 (in advance), website for Florida visitors and passport holders. Open Oct. 1-2, 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 28-31. 888-800-5447;
http://www.buschgardens.com

Seaworld’s Halloween Spooktacular is another kid-friendly trick-or-treat night where younguns can dress up and play with the witches and sea fairies. Octopuses, mermaids, pumpkin fish and more also occupy the underwater “fantasea”. Open Oct. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 19-20, 23-24. $78.95 adult, $68.95 ages 3-9; Florida residents and passport holder check http://www.seaworld.com for advance ticket rates. 407-363-2259.

ZooBoo is family fright night at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo where you creep through ghostly Pharaoh’s Tomb of Revenge and little kids, the Beasties Bungalow. Then ride for FREE on the Roarin’ Roller-Ghoster and other thrillers. Admission $17 adults, $14 ages 3-11, Hours 7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7-10 p.m. selected Sundays through Thursdays. Oct. 1-2, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 28-31. Tickets available online http://www.lowryparkzoo.com
Friday, Oct. 29 you can watch the animals have their Halloween Party with a Pumpkin Toss at 11 a.m. Included in Zoo admission. 813-935-8552.

Brevard Zoo presents Boo at the Zoo where the little ones play at Ooz Draverb Carnival of Creepy Creatures and the older ones walk down the Trail of Horrors. A costume contest for all ages starts at 6:30 p.m. Hours 5:30-9:30 p.m., $8 person Oct. 15-17, $10 Oct. 22-24 and 29-30. http://www.brevardzoo.org

It’s the 23rd Annual Spooktacular at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens where fairies, wizards, pirates and more add to the trick-or-treat fun. The Tomb, Ghostly Gardens and Forest of No Return to scream in the scare zones. $9 person, 6:30-9 p.m. Oct. 21-24, 28-31. http://www.jacksonvillezoo.org

Central Florida Zoo has their Zoo Boo Bash closer to Halloween. Kids can trick-or-treat in costume and everyone can take a haunted hayride, visit the pumpkin patch and the animals Oct. 23-24, 30-31. $11.95 adult, $9.95 age 60+, $7.95 ages 3-12, 2 and under Free. 407-323-4450. http://www.centralfloridazoo.org

Monster Splash time brings a couple of haunted houses, a Frightening Forest and a pirate skeleton walk to the Miami Seaquarium. Carnival rides, games and food help chase away the goosebumps. 5-11 p.m. Fri-Sun, Oct 29-31. 305-361-5705. Tickets online: http://www.miamiseaquarium.com

More ghosts and goblins will appear over the next three weeks. For non-spooky things to see and do this month, go to http://www.vacationfunflorida.com and click on Bargains.